Goodbye 2013

This will be my final post for 2013, and I better make it quick...I only have 29 minutes left in this year. Here are a few pictures from our last weeks of 2013. It was busy but good, of course. 

Kicking off the season with a visit from Santa and Grandma and Grandpa's house:

Emma, in her goose costume for her fourth grade holiday play:

Hanna at her preschool Christmas program telling Santa what she wants for Christmas:

Jase at his second grade Christmas program. How cute is that elf?!:

Amid all the Christmas programs and celebrations, Olivia had tubes put in her ears. Here she is resting comfortably after a very long night and early morning:

Emma, helping me make her Great Grandma Eyre's famous noodles for Christmas dinner. 

Our biggest Christmas surprise this year was this sweet little pup, Sammy. The kids are over the moon in love with her and that makes me happy. 

Remember the way this dog looks because I don't plan on putting many more pictures of her on this blog. 

The kids in their Christmas pajamas from Grandpa and Grandma Eyre. Olivia doesn't always love having her picture taken. :)

This year I made Christmas dinner for my family for the first time ever. It turned out pretty well and we were able to start some new traditions with our children. 

This is what my calendar looked like fur the month of December. Very full and busy. It may be hard to read but there are several family members on antibiotics, doctors appointments, 4 different Christmas programs, a minor surgery and a husband who was in Denver for pretty much all of it. 

I think this picture of Olivia pretty much sums up how I am feeling tonight:

Yes, I am exhausted. But I am also beyond grateful for the countless blessings I have been given. 2013 was not without it's trials, but somehow all of those trials seem to fade away when I realize what an amazing, fulfilling and blessed life we live. Goodbye 2013 and hello 2014! Bring. It. On.